Mazeguider & The Galactic Transformation Chamber
Jeet K is another artist we'll call a "Friend Of the Festival". For years he has been an instrumental part of the underground dance community, a highly respected and unique individual, who represents a conscious ideology that informs his work. For our 13th Annual festival, we invited him to create a collaborative performance piece incorporating music, words and dance. Together, with friends Jeffe & Sun-Energy, this will be the second assemblage of the Galactic Transformation Chamber. Mazeguider brings original beatz straight from his home with this baseline intention: activating frequencies; decoding and reconnecting; creating opportunities to dance & explore rhythm. Subs rubbing; tricks and treats, words & beats all exploding in a community-based performance sure to dazzle!!!!!
The Corporate Bagmen
A street theatre troupe formed deep in the heart of Liberal territory in suburban Richmond after the 2001 provincial election. The goal of the Corporate Bagmen is to support the neoliberal agenda of "Here a Cut, There a Cut, Everywhere a Cut" and to respond to the whining of bleeding hearts Province- wide who can't stand a little pain (this is meant as sarcasm, so don’t freak out peoples!). To quote our premier, "No pain for the populace of BC, no gain for the wealthy of this province such as Jim Pattison and Peter Brown.""The upward mobility of capital is a reality, so shut up and eat your kraft dinner", Peter Profit, spokesman for the Corporate Bagmen.
The Fierce Folk Revolution
Rae Spoon: Continuing in the long-standing tradition of folk
singers who
have one hand firmly planted on their guitar and their other hand grasping
at heartstrings, and lyrics with references to both John Deere and Johnny
Cash, Rae adds her own unique and youthful perspective to create a style
of music we call "new Skool Folk with old Skool soul". If Rae were older
and a bit less clean-shaven, she'd be trading vocal lines with Utah.
Glenn Garinther: A broken heart. A year-long journey through India,
Nepal and America's Bible Belt. A batch of songs. A record called
Immortal, the perfect fusion of hip hop and folk. A disciple of both Ani
D. and Chuck D. The lef-Coast Rhymer ready to rhyme & resist!!! Backed by
Lorraine Grieves on cello and Khris Harvey on drums.
Los Hijos de la Crisis: The band (comprised of Roberto Vargas & Alejandro Luna), was started at the UNAM (autonomous University of Mexico), born as a vehicle to represent the "voice of the voiceless"., or peoples who don't have public space or opportunities to express their opinions. The songs speak on important issues facing not only the people of Mexico, but oppressed people throughout the world. The duo's name Los Hijos de la Crisis (the children of crisis) was given to them by their friends in Mexico.
The Stunts
The Stunts are Vancouver's darling indie-rock-dyke power trio, rocking to overthrow the evils of corporate cockrock. Three grrrls from East Van, they write about grrls resisting evil-doers and kicking ass. They are fierce in the face of bastards in fast cars who screw grrls over. They are merciless yet melodic, powerful yet poppy. They've been rocking & fighting the revolution together ever since & ever more. Stunts shows protest the weight of the world and revel in resistance, with punning lyrics, cunning pop-punk melodies, and stunning costumes.
Pink Parlour
The "Middle City Rockers Do Political Bop until they win!!"
Kathara Dance Theatre Collective
Kathara is a collective of students, out-of-school youth, teachers, computer enthusiasts, small entrepreneurs and full-time artists and musicians, unified by their interest in indigenous arts and culture in Mindanao, Philippines. They research the culture of tribal communities in the mountains, using what they have learned to create performances, that they then present in urban centers. In support to the Tribal Filipino struggle for respect and self-determination, Kathara carry messages of peace and development, environmental protection, and cultural pride. Without partisan political color, they participate in the pro-people movement on the basis of human rights aspects of national issues.
In the cultural movement, Kathara serves a specific role as a starting point for people to experience and understand the Mindanaoan life and culture. Young members learn about identity and understand the need for assertion in the field of self-determination or nationhood. Their involvement may further evolve to the point where they choose another level of cultural or political activism.
We are proud to support Kathara's work by presenting them on our Waterfront stage.